Collapsible protective hat



June 2, 19 70 A. B. KENNEDY, JR 3,514,787

COLLAPSIBLE PROTECTIVE HAT Filed June 24, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet l A/wn H Kennedy, J

June 2, 1970 A. B. KENNEDY, JR 3,514,187

COLLAPSIBLE PROTECTIVE HAT Filed June 24, 1968 2 Sheets $heet 2 3,514,787 COLLAPSIBLE PROTECTIVE HA T Alvin B. Kennedy, Jr., 1802 Meadowview, Alvin, Tex. 77511 Filed June 24, 1968, Ser. No. 739,385

Int. Cl. A4211 1/02 US. Cl. 2-3 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A protective or so-called hard hat is made up of a plurality of arcuate segments pivoted together at their ends and provided with complementary stop and latching elements so that the segments can be expanded into relatively stable hat shape and collapsed into a compact internesting. configuration so as to be readily earned or stored in a briefcase or valise or even in a coat pocket.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to protective head wear and consists particularly in a novel collapsible protective hat which can be conveniently carried or stored in minimum space so as to be available when needed.

Description of the prior art While so-called hard hats are generally required around construction jobs and other industrial sites, frequently these cannot be readily obtained, or visitors to such sites may prefer to wear their own protective hats. However, conventional protective head wear is of bulky shape so that. it cannot be conveniently stored or carried about.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION flanges at the edges of the segments, while collapse of the segments is resisted in the expanded relationship thereof by complementary latching elements on the foremost and rearmost segments which snap together when the segments are expanded. However, pressure upon the foremost and rearmost segments causes all of the segmentsto collapse into compact, internesting relationship such as to fit in a briefcase or even in the owners pocket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention,

FIG. 1 is a side view of the novel protective hat in expanded condition.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the hat.

2 .1 a nited States Patent O 3,514,787 Patented June 2, 1970 FIG. 3 is a detail section taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the pivoted segments in collapsed, internesting relationship and showing the liner material.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the structure in FIG. 4 illustrating how the liner material may be folded to conform with the general compact configuration of the collapsed segments.

FIG. 6 is a detail section taken on line 66 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The body of the hat is made up of a plurality of arcuate segments, in this instance, six designated 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15, of suitable blow-resistant material, as plastic or sheet metal. Foremost segment '10 is provided with a forwardly projecting, visor-forming portion 16 and a peripheral lip or roll 17. Rearmost segment 15 is provided with a peripheral lip or roll 18. All of the segments are pivotally secured together at their ends in the manner shown by means of pins or rivets 19 and 20 which, as best shown in FIG. 5, extend somewhat inwardly of the segments for attachment of liner-forming material, in this case, pliable straps 21, 22, and 23.

The segments, of course, are of slightly decreasing radius from front to back so that they can be collapsed into the internesting or interleaved relationship shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 for occupying a minimum of space. The pliable liner material can be readily folded to conform with the collapsed configuration, as shown in FIG. 5. In order to prevent separation of the segments in the expanded configuration, as in FIGS. 1 and 2, the adjacent edges of the segments are provided with complementary interfitting ribs 25 and 26. In order to further stabilize the segments in the expanded relationship, tongues 27 and 28 project from rearmost segment 15 beyond pivotal connection pins 19 and 20., and these tongues carry at their ends outwardly projecting pins or detents 29 and 30 with hemispherical extremities (FIG. 6), Foremost segment 10 has recesses or holes 31 spaced somewhat from pivot pins 19 and 20. In the expanded relationship of the segments, detent-forming pins 29 and 30 snap into recesses 31 so as to stabilize the segments in their hat-forming relationships. However, slight pressure upon the foremost and rearmost segments will release latch elements 29 and 30 and 31 to permit collapse of the segments.

Accordingly, a practical protective hat may be readily collapsed to be carried about inconspicuously and conveniently so as to be always available when needed. The invention may be modified in various respects as will occur to those skilled in the art, and the exclusive use of all modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims is contemplated.

I claim:

1. A protective hat comprising a plurality of arcuate, interfitting segments of blow-resistant material with their end portions pivotally connected together so as to be expandable into hat shape and collapsible into compact, internesting configuraion, the rearmost of said segments including tongues extending beyond the pivotal connections thereof with the other segments, and the foremost segment including latch means for cooperating with said tongues to resist collapse of the segments from their expanded positions.

2. A protective hat comprising a plurality of areuate, interfitting segments pivotally connected together at their ends so as to be expandable and contractible between hat-forming and internesting, compact configurations, complementary stop flanges on adjacent edges of the segments in their expanded relationship to prevent separation thereof, complementary interengaging tongue and recess elements on the foremost and r'earrnost segments interengageable in the expanded configuration of the segments to resist collapse thereof, and liner means of pliable material secured to at least one of said segments.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,363,461 11/1944 Huntsman 28 2,861,274 11/1958 Stuart et a1. 26 3,026,525 3/1962 Gyorfy 23 3,423,763 1/1969 Schwartz 22G5 OTHER REFERENCES German printed application No. 1,053,195, March 1959, Haupt et al.

JAMES R. BOLER, Primary Examiner 

